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Gov. Hutchinson: Fort Smith concert set for Friday does not have state's approval

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Updated: 6:44 PM CDT May 12, 2020

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SHE JOINS US LIVE. KENDALL, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FRIDAY'S CONCERT? AS OF NOW, TEMPLE LIVE'S MIKE BROWN TELLS ME THEY HAVE NOT CANCELLED THE CONCERT FOR FRIDAY. THEY ARE WAITING TO GET THAT CEASE AND DESIST ORDER. HE PLANS TO HOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY WITH AN UPDATE. Mike Brown, TempleLive "it's really disappointing, I was a little bit blindsided, and to hear that at the press conference was a little disconcerting." MIKE BROWN WITH TEMPLE LIVE SAYS HE WAS OPTIMISTIC FOR THIS FRIDAY. HE SAYS HIS LEGAL TEAM HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH STATE OFFICIALS SINCE LATE LAST NIGHT. Mike Brown, TempleLive "you've got rights of assembly in other venues, that are not restricted by capacity or when they started doing it, its discrimination, its not right." BROWN SAYS TEMPLE LIVE RE-SUBMITTED THEIR PLAN FOR KEEPING CONCERT- GOERS SAFE. THEY MADE IT MANDATORY THAT EVERYONE WEARS A MASK AT THE CONCERT. TEMPLE LIVE TYPICALLY SEATS OVER ELEVEN HUNDRED PEOPLE- BUT FOR THIS FRIDAY THEY WERE PLANNING ON SEATING 229 PEOPLE. Mike Brown, TempleLive "so we've pulled it back at 20 percent capacity and its still not good enough." MANY SEATS IN THE THEATRE WERE BLOCKED OFF WITH CAUTION TAPE. Mike Brown, TempleLive "We've gone from a health and science issue to nothing but petty politics." BROWN SAYS HE IS STILL WEIGHING HIS OPTIONS FOR FRIDAY. Mike Brown, TempleLive "I mean I think music is essential and clearly it is not agreed upon." AS OF NOW, BROWN DOES NOT KNOW IF THEY WILL CANCEL. IF THEY DO CANCEL, HE DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY W

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Gov. Hutchinson: Fort Smith concert set for Friday does not have state's approval

During his COVID-19 update Monday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said a concert happening May 15 at Temple Live in Fort Smith violates the state's directives when it comes to gatherings at indoor venues. "We've looked at their plan and their plan is insufficient. That concert does not have our approval. It would happen three days before the authorized date, and it has a few other problems," Hutchinson said. Travis McCready of the rock band Bishop Gunn is supposed to travel from Mississippi to perform at Temple Live on Friday, May 15. According to Temple Live's website, the capacity inside the building will be reduced 80 percent from 1,100 people to 229 people, but even then, that still doesn't line up with the state's directive of 50 people or less with strict social distancing starting on May 18. Stephen Lester, who lives in Fort Smith, said he would not go to the concert, but he said it is up to each individual person if they want to put themselves at risk. "I think everybody is entitled to their own risks that they take. Everybody knows that it is going to be a risk if they are going to get involved with that sort of thing," Lester said. Temple Live's website also said the venue will be sanitized before the event with fog sprayers and everyone's temperature will be taken before they enter the building. Kristel Brantley, who lives in Fort Smith, said she thinks it is okay for the concert to happen because she thinks it is time for businesses to reopen. "I feel like as long as you take precautions and you weigh the risk and decide if you have the immune system that's built for it, then I think it would be okay. We definitely need to boost our economy, and everybody is going stir crazy," Brantley said. 40/29 News reached out to Temple Live Monday afternoon for a comment via phone, email and Facebook and did not get a response. Fort Smith Police said the venue will have to follow the Arkansas Department of Health's directives, or else it will be in violation of Gov. Hutchinson's orders. Police said, if someone believes a directive is not being followed, they can submit a complaint to the Arkansas Department of Health.

FORT SMITH, Ark. —

During his COVID-19 update Monday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said a concert happening May 15 at Temple Live in Fort Smith violates the state's directives when it comes to gatherings at indoor venues.

"We've looked at their plan and their plan is insufficient. That concert does not have our approval. It would happen three days before the authorized date, and it has a few other problems," Hutchinson said.

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Travis McCready of the rock band Bishop Gunn is supposed to travel from Mississippi to perform at Temple Live on Friday, May 15.

Stephen Lester, who lives in Fort Smith, said he would not go to the concert, but he said it is up to each individual person if they want to put themselves at risk.

"I think everybody is entitled to their own risks that they take. Everybody knows that it is going to be a risk if they are going to get involved with that sort of thing," Lester said.

Temple Live's website also said the venue will be sanitized before the event with fog sprayers and everyone's temperature will be taken before they enter the building.

Kristel Brantley, who lives in Fort Smith, said she thinks it is okay for the concert to happen because she thinks it is time for businesses to reopen.

"I feel like as long as you take precautions and you weigh the risk and decide if you have the immune system that's built for it, then I think it would be okay. We definitely need to boost our economy, and everybody is going stir crazy," Brantley said.

40/29 News reached out to Temple Live Monday afternoon for a comment via phone, email and Facebook and did not get a response.

Fort Smith Police said the venue will have to follow the Arkansas Department of Health's directives, or else it will be in violation of Gov. Hutchinson's orders.

Police said, if someone believes a directive is not being followed, they can submit a complaint to the Arkansas Department of Health.